Shaniko, OR

It was hot and dusty; we'd been on the road for a good 4 hours when, feeling the need for ice cream, we came upon Shaniko, OR.

 

Shaniko's heyday was in the early 1900's when it was a thriving center for the wool industry. It contains some charming old buildings, many abandoned and for sale.

Interested in buying it? Go here.

This hotel was fixed up by a wealthy history buff from the Portland area, but after contentious dealings with the locals, he closed it.  The flap was interesting enough to be a New York Times article a few years ago.

Still, you can get ice cream from a little shop owned by the mayor, and you can find antiques and t-shirts down the road.

 It's a pretty great place to take pictures.

 If you like old weathered stuff you should take a stroll around Shaniko.

 Were they just pulling my leg, or was this for real at some point? I thought maybe it was true.

 Then again, a ghost town that contains yarn bombs shouldn't be taken too seriously.

 Cups and bowls on an old chuck wagon.

 Ceiling of a sheep herder's wagon.

 Every old western town needs a jail.

Step right in.

I love this wood stove. Maybe being in jail would have been cozy.

 I was crazy about a fire engine, which seemed like it ought to work.

 But like Shaniko itself, although it had a lot going for it, somehow it just didn't run.

Shaniko is one of those places that is just on the edge of survival. A hundred years have passed since it was a bustling town, and mostly it is in pretty tough shape. 

Yet there are those who live there, love it, and try to make a go of it. This rustic little cabin is nearly ready to be rented out for intrepid visitors with a taste for the old West.  I'm tempted to try it out next year. At least I know I can get ice cream if I need it.